Orthopedic appliance to assist reduction of anterior dislocation of shoulder

Abstract

An orthopedic appliance that is designed to assist in the reduction of an anterior dislocation, during a course of treatment given to a person who is laying horizontal on a table or similar elevated surface, with the affected arm hanging directly downward. The appliance eliminates the need for a person to grip or in any way consciously hold on to weighted objects, thereby allowing the patient to fully relax during the treatment procedure. The appliance comprises one or more forearm straps which are wrapped around the forearm of the person receiving treatment, where one or more weighted units are attached to the forearm straps, with extending supports so that the weights hang down, so that a direct downward pull on the affected arm is possible. Said weighted units may be attached to the forearm straps using one or more descending loops, in which weights such as dumbbells may be placed. In place of loops, weighted units may be hooked on to the forearm strap portion, with the weighted units supported so that they are positioned below the affected person's wrist and hand.

I claim: 
     
       1. An orthopedic appliance that is designed to assist in the reduction of an anterior dislocation of a patient's affected appendage while the appendage is hanging downward during the reduction treatment, where the patient does not use their hand to grip or hold any part of said appliance, comprising: a. One or more forearm straps that are able to fully encircle the patient's forearm, having a means to secure the ends of said forearm straps to provide a closed loop of desired size that can accommodate the person's forearm; and   b. A means to support a weighted unit, fixed to said forearm strap, where the weighted unit is able to be supported so that it is positioned below the wrist of a patient using this appliance, where said means to support a weighted unit comprises multiple loops, where each of the loops have different lengths with a common point of attachment to the forearm strap, so that each of the three loops can independently support a weighted mass.